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May 19, 1897
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Born in Huntsville, Ontario
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Dec 6, 1915
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Attested into the 109th Battalion CEF
in Lindsay, Ontario
Ø Number 724670
Ø Next of kin given as Charlie Thomas, uncle,
Minden, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Lumberman
Ø No previous military experience given
Ø Religion given as Methodist
Ø Posted to “D” Company
In a sign of the times, his medical notes that he
is “¼ Bred Negro”
In the spring of 1916, the 109th
Battalion moved to Camp Borden near Barrie, Ontario for advanced training
In early July 1916, the
battalion moved to the Barriefield Camp, Kingston, Ontario
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Jul 23, 1916
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Embarked the SS Olympic in
Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Jul 31, 1916
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Disembarked in Liverpool,
England and proceeded to the Bordon Camp, near Longmoor, Hampshire
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Aug 16, 1916
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The battalion moved to
Bramshott to continue training
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Oct 5, 1916
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Transferred to the 21st
Battalion
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Oct 6, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian
Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and Taken On Strength of the 21st
Battalion
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Oct 22, 1916
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After leaving the base depot,
Private Thomas joined the 21st Battalion in Bully Grenay, France
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Jan 17, 1917
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During a large trench raid on
the enemy lines at Calonne, France Private Thomas received shrapnel wounds to
his groin and left leg causing a compound fracture of the Femur. He was evacuated to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian
Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to the No. 22 CCS
(Casualty Clearing Station)
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Jan 21, 1917
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Transferred via the No. 12 AT
(Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 4 General Hospital in Camiers,
France
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Mar 12, 1917
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Invalided to England aboard
the Hospital Ship Formosa
On arrival in England, he was
admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Netley
Transferred to the EORD
(Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital
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May 22, 1917
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Transferred to the Duchess of Connaught
Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Taplow
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Jun 1, 1917
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Surgery was performed to remove
dead bone fragments
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Aug 30, 1917
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Surgery was performed to remove
additional dead bone fragments
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Oct 23, 1917
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Transferred to the No. 5
Canadian General Hospital in Kirkdale, Liverpool
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Nov 19, 1917
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Embarked the Hospital Ship Araguaya
in Liverpool as a cot case
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Nov 29, 1917
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Disembarked in Halifax, Nova
Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario where he was Taken On Strength of
Military District No. 3 Casualty Company
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Dec 6, 1917
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Admitted to the Queen’s
University Military Hospital in Kingston
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Mar 26, 1918
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Medical exam at the Queen’s
University Military Hospital
Ø Suffered a shrapnel
wound to his left leg causing a compound fracture to his left leg
Ø X-Ray shows 2
pieces of shrapnel present
Ø Left leg is 2
inches shorter than right
Ø Wears a special
boot with a raised sole
Ø His left knee only
allows flexion to 45 degrees but this should improve
Ø Walks with a limp
Ø Discharge from
military service is recommended with a disability due to service
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Apr 15, 1918
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Discharged from the CEF in
Kingston, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge
Private
Ø Entitled to War
Service Badge Class “A”
Ø Proposed residence
on discharge Minden, Ontario
Following the end of the war,
the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him c/o the Christie
Street Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
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Apr 6, 1964
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John Thomas died and was
buried in the Ingoldsby Pioneer Cemetery, Haliburton, Ontario
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